wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “synergy”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “synergy”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 1 of the top 18. 4 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
bad_ip WP shows at wp.org #6 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Page Builder: Pagelayer – Drag and Drop website builder 400K+ · 3.9★ (104)
wp.org #1 2 
Barcode Generator: Print Product Labels & Order Barcode Label (A4, Thermal/Roll, Letter) 900+ · 4.5★ (74)
wp.org #2 3 
iConvert Email Marketer 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 4 
ShasTech SEO Synergy — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 5 
Etibot Yorum Botu 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 S Simple Login Custom 10+ · 5.0★ (1) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Synergy Project Manager — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Humanify Content Grader — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
SEO Audit & PageSpeed Insights Scanner — White Label Agency Lead Generation — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 bad_ip WP 20+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 4 too high 11 
Retail Media Network – Onet Ads — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
Codesala SEO Content Engine 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 1 too low 13 
Sales Counter For WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #11 2 too high 14 D dial voyants 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 15 
A.N.R.GHG Publishing Toolkit 10+ · 0.0★ (0) heavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 F Free WP-Membership Plugin — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 2 too low 17 
Synergy Press — · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 2 too high 18 
Kripto Para Dönüştürücü ve Döviz Hesaplama 40+ · 3.5★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 1 too high Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.